Unless otherwise noted in individual species profiles, most all Butterflyfishes can be fed a varied diet of vitamin-enriched marine fish, crustacean, and mollusk flesh, mysid shrimp, and any appropriate frozen preparations suitable for carnivores.
Do butterfly fish eat coral?
butterflyfishes often prey on soft corals and gorgonians and as such are a significant threat to place in a reef aquarium. Many aquarists have reported success with keeping these fish with small polyp stony corals such as Acropora and Montipora, but large polyp stony corals may be picked on.
What do freshwater butterfly fish eat?
It is carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects and smaller fishes. The freshwater butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter. Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth is specifically adapted to capture small prey along the water’s surface.
Do butterfly fish eat fish?
Butterflyfish are mainly carnivorous, and their diet consists primarily of small invertebrates. They use their tiny mouths to pick food off the reef or scavenge dead animals. Butterflyfish eat some common foods, including crustaceans, mollusks, tunicates, and small fish.
How do you feed a butterfly fish? – Related Questions
Are butterfly fish easy to care for?
Pennant Butterflyfish (Heniochus chrysostomus) – Another species found in the Indo-Pacific region, the pennant butterflyfish grows up to 7 inches long and is fairly easy to keep. These fish will accept a wide variety of foods, though they do require several feedings per day.
Do butterfly fish have teeth?
Ichthyologists classify butterflyfishes in the Family Chaetodontidae, named for their tooth design. All have comb-like teeth and are primarily carnivores, but diet varies from species to species.
What can live with a butterfly fish?
Tankmates should be chosen with care. Though butterflyfish are not efficient fish predators, small fish that venture too close to their mouths will be eaten. Larger tetras and barbs are safe from predation. Small bottom-oriented cichlids, catfish, Ctenopoma species, and mormyrids are also excellent choices.
Can you put butterfly fish together?
They are generally shy fish that need peaceful tank mates. Some species however, especially the obligate coral feeders, can get very territorial. These fish are fine when kept either singly, in pairs, or in small small groups but mixing them together with other Butterflyfish can be a problem.
Can butterfly fish live in an aquarium?
Butterfly Fish Aquarium Size
Most butterfly fish will grow around 8 inches or more in length. This means that an aquarium should be 100 gallons or larger when keeping them in a community tank. Smaller species can be kept in aquariums of up to 75 gallons in size. Just keep in mind that these fish are extremely active.
Where do butterfly fish eat?
What does the butterfly fish eat? Feeding at the bottom layer of the sea, the butterfly fish has evolved all kinds of jaw sizes and shapes to probe narrow cracks for food. Its favorite foods include small invertebrates such as sponges and worms. Some species also feed on coral polyps, algae, and plankton.
How long do butterfly fish live?
Due to climate changes and ocean pollution in the last couple of decades, the number of butterflyfish has decreased drastically. How long do butterflyfish live? The average lifespan of a butterfly- fish in the wild is seven years..
Do butterfly fish have venom?
The flesh of the reef butterflyfish is not toxic, but they are generally not harvested for food.
Do butterfly fish eat pods?
Arcti-Pods® (arctic copepod concentrate) is a very smart choice for feeding butterflyfish which can be finicky eaters. It is naturally rich in carotenoids, which can make colors brighter. It is also a great source of protein, omega fatty acids, and waxy esters for growth.
Do butterfly fish live in freshwater or saltwater?
They thrive in saltwater with around 120 species in all. What is this? They are mostly found in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Their main home is in the coral reefs and with the current destruction of such, the number of butterflyfish isn’t the same as it used to be.
How big can a butterfly fish get?
Butterflyfish mostly range from 12 to 22 cm (4.7 to 8.7 in) in length. The largest species, the lined butterflyfish and the saddle butterflyfish, C. ephippium, grow to 30 cm (12 in).
What size tank do African butterfly fish need?
The ideal set-up for the African Butterfly is an aquarium of at least 30 gallons with plenty of plants that reach near the surface that this fish can use for cover. They can handle a wide range of temperatures up into the mid 80’s. These fish can jump out of the water, and can even glide short distances.
Is a butterfly fish an angelfish?
There are two readily identifiable differences. First, Angelfish always have at least one prominent spine on the posterior edge of the gill cover, while Butterflys have spiny dorsal fins. Second, Angels have a blunt shaped head while Butterflyfish have a beak-like snout.
Is a butterfly fish rare?
The peppered butterflyfish is difficult to keep in captivity and is rare in the aquarium trade.
What are butterfly fish known for?
There are at least 114 species of butterflyfish. They have thin, disk-shaped bodies that closely resemble their equally recognizable cousins, the angelfish. They spend their days tirelessly pecking at coral and rock formations with their long, thin snouts in search of coral polyps, worms, and other small invertebrates.
Can butterfly fish and angelfish live together?
Smaller angelfish are usually not aggressive and can live with other fish. They make great tank mates with Blennies, Gobies, Anthias, Butterflyfish and similar species.